Editing Norway (section)

=== Metal Ages ===
{{Main|Nordic Bronze Age|Iron Age Scandinavia}}
From about 1500 BC, [[bronze]] was gradually introduced. Burial cairns built close to the sea as far north as [[Harstad Municipality|Harstad]] and also inland in the south are characteristic of this period, with rock carving motifs that differ from those of the [[Stone Age]], depicting ships resembling the [[Hjortspring boat]], while large stone burial monuments known as [[stone ship]]s were also erected.<ref>Ling 2008. ''Elevated Rock Art''. GOTARC Serie B. Gothenburg Archaeological Thesis 49. Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Gothenburg, Goumlteborg, 2008. {{ISBN|978-9185245345}}.</ref>

There is little archaeological evidence dating to the early [[Iron Age]] (the last 500 years BC). The dead were cremated, and their graves contained few goods. During the first four centuries AD, the people of Norway were in contact with Roman-occupied [[Gaul]]; about 70 Roman bronze cauldrons, often used as burial urns, have been found. Contact with countries farther south brought a knowledge of [[runes]]; the oldest known Norwegian runic inscription dates from the third century.